Method of waste thermoplastic removal

ABSTRACT

Method of removing waste thermoplastic materials from an assortment of waste materials being conveyed past a thermoplastic removal station and consisting of a rotatable cylinder contacting the material due to its own weight and either driven by the movement of the conveying means or in synchronism therewith from an independent power source. The cylinder has a surface of contact with the materials, and means is provided to heat it to a temperature which softens the thermoplastic materials to a sufficient extent that they adhere to the heated surface and are carried away from the conveying means. To remove the softened and adhered thermoplastic materials from the cylinder, a scraper is provided contacting its surface and is effective to scrape the thermoplastic materials from the cylinder whereupon it may be carried away by a conveyor or the like.

United States Patent 1 3,599,788

[72] Inventors RobertD.Fyfe 3,006,465 10/1961 James 209/45 Quenton: 

1. A method for removing thermoplastic materials from household and industrial waste material containing garbage, metal, paper and said thermoplastic material, said thermoplastic material being characterized by becoming adhesive at elevated temperatures, comprising the steps of: a. moving waste containing thermoplastic material in a continuous path of travel from a first location to a second location, b. interposing a continuously moving surface in said path of travel between said first and second locations, c. contacting said waste moving in said path of travel with said moving surface, d. maintaining said continuously moving surface at a temperature sufficient to soften said thermoplastic material and render it adhesive so that upon contact thereof with said waste said thermoplastic material adheres to said heated and moving surface, d. moving said heated and moving surface with said thermoplastic material thereon from said path of travel, and e. removing said thermoplastic material from said heated and moving surface.
 2. A method for removing thermoplastic material from household and industrial waste material containing garbage, metal, paper and said thermoplastic material, said thermoplastic material characterized by becoming adhesive at elevated temperatures, comprising the steps of: a. transporting waste containing thermoplastic materials from one location to another, b. heating a continuously moving surface located intermediate said first and second locations to a temperature sufficient to soften said thermoplastic material and render it adhesive, c. contacting said continuously moving heated surface with said waste so that said thermoplastic material adheres to said heated surface, d. moving said heated surface with said thermoplastic material adhered thereto out of contact with said waste, and e. removing said thermoplastic materials from said heated surface.
 3. A method for removing thermoplastic material from household and industrial waste material containing garbage, metal, paper and said thermoplastic material, said thermoplastic material being characterized by becoming adhesive at elevated temperatures, comprising the steps of: a. transporting waste containing thermoplastic materials from one location, past an intermediate thermoplastic removal surface, to a second location, b. maintaining said thermoplastic removal surface at a temperature sufficient to soften said thermoplastic material and under it adhesive, c. moving said heated thermoplastic removal surface at the same speed as said transported waste, d. contacting said transported waste with said moving heated thermoplastic removal surface whereby said thermoplastic material adheres to said heated surface, e. moving said heated surface with said thermoplastic material adhering thereto out of contact with said transported waste, and f. removing said thermoplastic material from said heated surface. 